February Tunes

Since it is the month of love, I made a playlist of some of the love songs I enjoy recently. These tunes feel a lot like falling in love to me (not that I am in love or anything) and every song has an ambiance and a mix of R&B and hip-hop vibe. It is a nice company during lone hours, spending some alone time with nothing but book, music, and maybe a cup of whatever it is. I happened to be re-reading this collection of poems when I reviewed these tunes, I might as well write a few words about it.

I stumbled on this book when I was walking around a bookstore, it's been months ago since I bought and read it. This book is a collection of poems written by a local illustrator and writer, Lala Bohang. She writes and illustrates very well, and I genuinely love her sense of humor in every work she does. Going through each page feels like reading my own mind, The Book of Forbidden Feelings offers stories of love and personal struggles in relationships, written in poetic style with dashes of sarcasms here and there. It is relate-able (most of the poems), witty, and complemented with lovely artwork. As fun as the book seems, some poems do not relate to me as much as Naela Ali's stories do, probably because I have never went through the kind of relationships Lala Bohang had; Overall, I'm enjoying this book, even though I don't relate much with the love stories, but the sarcasm and other attitude in most stories feel a lot like me.

The Book of Forbidden Feelings by Lala Bohang

Photography by Michelle Sal. / iPhone 7

This Modern Love

I was impressed by a photograph taken by an Instagram user I follow when I first saw this book, thanks to his incredible photography skill, I was drawn to get to know more about this book. Looking all pretty on an Instagram picture was not the only reason I finally decided to purchase one, this book is a collection of love stories, which is exactly the type of book I'm into. This Modern Love is a book of collection of love letters written by people around the world. It is compiled by the author Will Darbyshire and is divided into three parts; To put it in my own words, they are divided into three steps of falling in love. It begins with a crush, then being in love, and finally, there's the break-up and heartbreaks. 

Crush

Just like the beginning of many love stories, the book begins with crush and admiration letters written to the person the authors have feelings for. To be honest, this part of the book does not really impress me, it is a compilation of smitten crush confessions written in unfortunately, rather dull structures and words. Many of the letters are telling the exact same stories just like the other ones, but I like how they picture the feeling of crushing on a person, there's innocence and purity in between the written lines. This part of the book is not bad, it feels honest, but I do think it could have been more exhilarating, just like having a crush feels like.

Falling in love

When I started this part, the song Minnewaska by Widowspeak was playing on my iTunes, and boy what a great pair they were. The song was the perfect soundtrack to this part, and I couldn't resist replaying it over and over. The part of falling in love itself is much better than the first part, the letters are more varied, and so are the stories. They give me smile and some are even hilarious, it is the most heartwarming part of the book.

Heartbreak

With every beginning comes an end, just like many relationships, this book ends with heartbreaks. These are letters from people who were brokenhearted by their past relationships, letters to their exes. Some show bravery, some are nostalgic, and some other are still struggling to pass by the hurt. This part of the book is probably my favorite, the stories are deeper and the words are more poetic, these are the stories of heartbreaks and failed relationships, this part feels genuine.

Overall, the compilation of love letters curated by Will Darbyshire was an enjoyable reading experience. However, I do feel the letters and words could be much deeper and sincere. It does not give me all the emotional feelings or hook me in some ways, but the honest words and stories are able to lighten the mood. I would probably give the book a second reading chance and see if it would give me the roller-coaster feelings. I like the author much better though, his intention with this book is heart-warming, and so is the reason behind it, and his Instagram feed is amazing. 

Minnewaska by Widowspeak

This Modern Love by Will Darbyshire

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / iPhone 7

Local Shades

It's not easy to get the perfect liquid lipstick for some people, and I am one of those unlucky ones to get the chapped lips look when using liquid lipstick. I have been recommended to try a few international brands that have been said to have the perfect formula and shades, but most of the times the shades are not available here. As I looked further for alternatives, two local lip-coat brands caught my attention. I have heard about the hype of these brands since last year, but I wasn't looking for these products then, and I didn't get my hands on them until before Christmas. I found a couple of perfect shades that have become my favorite ever since, and almost all of these lip-coats were made with the perfect formula. These products does not gave me the chapped lips, they were not sticky and spread well, and they lasted quite alright.

PHILOSOPHY －Kiss Me Tonight | Intense Lip Therapy. Every single time I'm about to put lipstick on, I need to make sure they are coated with a lip balm. I have been comfortable using the ones from Origins and Crabtree & Evelyn, but this one from Philosophy is by far my favorite lip balm for sure. It's probably because of its texture which is creamy, unlike other liquid lip balms I usually use; It contains ultra-creamy formula, and it has this great scent and taste which I absolutely love. My lips have never chapped after I started using this balm, it can be used to hydrate and soften lips. I often use it as a lip therapy as well when I'm not using any lipstick, and it gives you a bit of shimmer yet non-wet look. And it's non-wet texture gives a great base to prevent chapped lips when using lipsticks. 

BLP (By Lizzie Parra) －Burnt Cinnamon. I'm pretty sure many have had this lip-coat in this particular shade, it's absolutely my favorite for daily use. BLP is a lip-coat line by a local Indonesian beauty blogger Lizzie Parra, and her lip-coat is probably the best formulated lip product suitable for me. Compared to other lip-coats or liquid lipsticks, this one does not feel heavy on the lips, it's creamy yet it spreads well, it's just simply the perfect formula. Sometimes, during touch-ups, I don't add another layer of lip balm and use this lip product straight away, it magically does not chapped my lips when  the balms are out, and it does not happen to me with other similar products.

ROLLOVER REACTION －Umma and Moss. The hype of this new brand launched back in 2016 was undeniable, everyone was trying and had a pleasant review about this line. The Rollover Reaction is another local lip products, their lip-coats can be used both as lipstick and blush as they are very pigmented. When I first about to try them, Rollover Reaction happened to just release their newest collection, the Clique. The collection is inspired by the 90s grunge scene, therefore, their shades are named after the iconic women of the 90s, like Umma Thurman, Kate Moss, and Liv Tyler. My personal favorite happened to be Umma and Moss, these two shades have the absolute right attitude for bolder looks. I absolutely adore these two, with Umma's deeper and darker red and Moss's orange-y brick-like color. As for their texture, they are more sueded than BLP's, they are really nice after a layer of lip balm, but without any base, I got my lips chapped. I would definitely go for these lip-coats to add more attitude, but probably not for daily use.

Shades of BLP's Burnt Cinnamon, Rollover Reaction's Liv, and Rollover Reaction's Umma

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / iPhone 7

Greatest Lesson

A friend has recommended this book for some time now, and after awhile I finally got to purchase the novel and read it. At first, I thought the novel was another book of love story, and to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of novels as they are long and many of them are written in complex structures; Not that I have anything against novels, but unless it tells a story that is very intriguing to me, I would rather read a book of collection of short poems or stories.

Tuesdays with Morrie has positive reviews with people claiming the book has changed their lives, so I got curious and decided to join the hype. And after a few days, I got to finish the book, and I can see where the hype came from. It was an enjoyable read of a real life story, written in simple words and heartwarming life lessons. It clearly has the ability to change the readers' perspectives on life and so many other things, it gives readers different point of views of what's important. I like how the stories are told and written as it is, it doesn't feel as the writer tried to impress the readers with big words or any complexity while building story elements.

It was a good read and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers, or simply buy it as a gift for someone, it would be a heartwarming one. Tuesdays with Morrie lives up to its reputation.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Graduated

I have finally graduated from college with bachelor degree of art! I have actually finished the study since a couple of months ago when I passed the thesis final presentation, but the graduation ceremony was just held last week. The ceremony was quite long and was a bore, but I was sitting close by my friends, so we had a pretty good time during the long ceremony, even though we were half asleep due to the early morning starting schedule. We had our photos taken afterwards with each other, and also other friends who came to congratulate and give us flowers, we went back to celebrate with each of our family and some of them actually made friends and got acquainted. I am deeply thankful and grateful for all the people who have been around since day one and stuck around until the end of college; I thank you for the support, laugh, advice, and many more. To my family, closest friends, classmates, lecturers, seniors, and every one who have had roles during my college years, you have been crucial every step of the way!

As good as it feels to be free from any responsibility, I will miss the hours of struggling to complete a project and skipping sleeps after sleeps just to catch up with deadlines. I will miss the Skype video chats and hours of silence during the calls just to keep each other company while working on the projects. I will miss the freezing classes and backseats filled with juicy gossips and complains about life and classes. I will miss saying hi to other friends in hallways and I will also miss the snack counter selling the nicest treats in campus. I will miss the ramen counter and also the expensive lunch one, and I will miss the sofas where we lay down for hours working on other projects, eating, and sleeping while waiting for the next classes. Thank you to all my friends for the good times, and thank you to all my family for the support!

On Monday, 2 days after the graduation ceremony, I was hired and started working as a graphic designer at a lifestyle and retail company. They are quite well known among the young people in Jakarta, and I actually enjoy being a part of the brand development team, even though the commute takes quite a portion of my time and paycheck. The bosses are very welcoming since day one, and so are the people working there; Even though they are much older than I am, they always try to reach out and make me feel like I'm part of their team. So far, working at this new place has been pleasing, I am excited to experience new days and meet new people along the way!

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Holy Grail

Lately, I have been slightly obsessed with skincare and makeup products. I look them up on the websites and search for their reviews, and I would have the urge to always try new interesting ones when they have positive feedback. I bought them because I want to try them and have the effect and result promised by the product, but other times, I bought them because they are packed in lovely packaging and they caught my eyes. Compared to each other, I am much more interested and obsessed with skincare products to makeups. I personally think using skincare products is more important, because they can actually help skin to be repaired and maintain its prime; But it also depends on each product's ingredients, composition, quality, and of course, the compatibility with each skin type. 

I have been using some products that I love, they are basically my holy grail of skincare products. I don't usually use the high-end product brands though, as their combined price numbers are above my paycheck, but I would definitely try the good ones when I can afford one. In the meantime, I'll just steal some of my mum's SKII and buy the ones that I can actually afford; Their quality and results have been impeccable, and I'm obsessed, I will not stop using them in a long time. These products work well with my combination skin type, but keep in mind that every result may vary for every one.

PHILOSOPHY – Purity Made Simple (One-step Facial Cleanser). The absolute necessity after a long day with make-up coverage, it is the perfect smooth cleanser with amazing cleansing ability. It washes off make-up products within 30 to 60 seconds of face massage, it literally melts all the products off of my face. It is made from organic ingredients, and it works not only to cleanse, but also to hydrate and balance my skin.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

SON & PARK – Beauty Water. After rinsing off the excess of the facial cleanser, I would complement the cleansing process using Son & Park's beauty water. It is a toner to balance the skin as well as a cleanser for any remaining dirt on the face. It smells really nice and I love how it feels cool on my face. Turns out it also works as a light exfoliation with bark and papaya extract to peel off any dead skin, it also contains lavender water, rose water, and orange fruit extract for hydration and moisturization.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

ORGANIC SUPPLY CO. – Castor Oil. This oil is the absolute work of magic, I use it with the intention of making my eyelashes longer, and after only a few days of using it, my lashes grow longer much faster than I expected. Before using this product, my lashes barely existed, they were so thin and short, but now I can apply mascara easily on my upper and lower lashes thanks to this oil. After a continued research, I found out that castor oil is also applicable as skincare product, it is made from the extract of Ricinus Communis. It contains vitamin A, B, D, and especially rich of vitamin E, castor oil stimulates the production of collagen and elastin which wonderfully hydrates and softens skin. Castor oil is also known for its ability to fade dark spots and delay wrinkles or fine lines, as well as an alternative choice for lip balms.

Where I got mine: Organic Supply Co.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA – Murumuru Butter Bronzer. This one is actually a makeup product, but I absolutely adore it as it works wonder on my face. It is a light bronzer by Physicians Formula that gives me the perfect color to add definition to my face, I love the color and most definitely, the smell. It smells so good, I could sniff it all day to be honest, the bronzer is infused with the blend of Murumuru butter, Cupuacu butter, and Tucuma Butter, from the lush and nutrient-rich Amazon. It is perfectly soft and gives me the bright radiant Brazilian glow, as well as sealing moisture and lasting hydration.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

They are my absolute favorite and holy grail and work well with my combination skin type. But again, all these products may have different results on each person, so always check and look for more reviews and details on each product before purchasing one.

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Gloom

As much as I wanted to do more photography for personal project both digitally and manually, lately, I have found it very hard to find interesting objects and places to be explored. I don't usually find it hard to capture and gather photo collections for my blog or Instagram, but lately everything I see has been dull and unattractive. It's such a waste, since I got myself two toy-cameras some time ago, I have not finished any of my rolls even though I am very excited to have the films developed. 

I would really love to visit new places to hunt for some new photos, I really cannot wait to see the film rolls developed. I am also keen on starting to learn to cruise on a Penny board, and currently in the looking for a new 22" Penny. It's fun to imagine going on a cruise while hunting for photos, I might ask a friend to come along with me to do so. Apparently, I have lost interest in shooting minimalist, clean photos, instead, I have been editing photos in gloomy, grey-ish tone now; kind of how I've been feeling lately.

I have been feeling bored and dull with my current situation, and I have been wanting to learn new skills like learning German and to ride a Penny skateboard. Instead, all I have managed to learn is to apply basic makeup. I am surprised at myself for having an interest in makeup at all, my mother is very fond of this idea. It's fun and I enjoy layering myself with fine products, I love it best when I apply some natural-dewy look. Not only makeup, I have been growing fondness of skincare too, they feel good and improve skin quality, and they mostly come with beautiful packaging too. But let's get back to this topic some time later.

I haven't been to any new places and I barely left the house since a few months ago for some unknown reasons, but I have picked up a new hobby to train and try to gain weight. For about a month now, I have been training based on Nike+ Training Club exercises, it started as an effort to gain more weight since I have been said to be too skinny. But I have actually enjoyed myself training for about 3-4 times a week now, it feels good and I feel like some of my body parts have improved in definition.  

By the way, no, I have not got myself an employment, and I don't really feel bad about it somehow. I have more time to explore more (important/unimportant) interests, well at least up until the graduation day or the new year's. I have been called for a couple of interviews, but nothing have got me hooked so far; I have another one this Friday, I hope this one suits me well.

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / iPhone 5s